Bates claims crucial Adelaide pole, scary crash for Goodall
Dunlop Series
3h
Points leader Zach Bates claims second pole of 2024
Championship contenders lock out first three grid slots
Reuben Goodall suffers frightening crash at turn four
Zach Bates has secured the best possible start to his championship weekend in the Dunlop Series, claiming pole position in Boost Mobile Qualifying for Race 11 of the season.
Bates was the only driver to dip into the teens in his Walkinshaw Andretti United Commodore, setting a 1:19.8915s to head Aaron Cameron on the front row of the grid, who set a 1:20.0251s.
Kai Allen ensured that the three title contenders will be fighting at the front tomorrow by claiming third on the grid, but was three tenths down on Bates, and almost two tenths down on Cameron.
The session was shortened by two and a half minutes due to a nasty crash for Reuben Goodall that carried on for several hundred metres.
Pressing on in his Gomersall Motorsport Commodore, the Adelaide local thumped the wall at the exit of the Senna Chicane, ripping the front right wheel off the #20 and appearing to sever the brake line.
With no brakes, Goodall's car careered into the escape road at turn four, and made severe contact with the barriers towards the end of the escape road, knocking the concrete barrier flat on the ground.
Goodall emerged from the car unscathed, and was taken away in the Medical Car, however his participation in the remainder of the weekend now appears highly unlikely.
Goodall's wellbeing was front of mind for Bates upon seeing the replay of the incident post-session, however the Canberran was thrilled with his performance in the opening Boost Mobile Qualifying session of the day.
"I hope old mate's alright, that was scary," Bates said.
"Nonetheless, it was a good session, the Walkinshaw Andretti United Shaw Wines car has been hooked up all weekend. The guys here have been doing an amazing job. We'll keep carrying the momentum, we've got one more to go today.
"We've got the orange numbers on, which is awesome. It's a big weekend, it's going to be a pretty intense one between the three of us.
"We'll just keep on building and chipping away."
Jarrod Hughes was an excellent fourth for Image Racing in his first Adelaide qualifying session in any category, ahead of Cameron McLeod, Rylan Gray, Jordyn Sinni, Lochie Dalton, Brad Vaughan, and Thomas Maxwell in 10th.
Boost Mobile Qualifying for Race 12 of the 2024 Dunlop Series is scheduled to begin at 4:55pm local time/5:25pm AEDT.
